Backup vocals?

[shadowtippy]

I'm not sure if this is the right thread or not, but here goes...
I don't sing in public for a reason. The reason is: I can't cary a tune. I've been known to scare children and small animals with my "singing." My band leader wants me to do some backing vocals, not really singing, (no words, just "oooh") on a CSNY song that we play. Should I agree to do it, or would it be best to refuse so as not to embarrass myself and ruin the song?

[gnjpowell]

Go for it Bro!

[refbassist]

if you can't then you can't just tell him that or let him discover by himself

[bluewine]

Do it for the experience.

[Muttleybass]

Just do it!

You warned him. If you do manage to pull it off, your stock value goes up. If you don't he tells you to stop. No need to be embarrassed.

[jad]

Do it. Commit to it. Work at it. Hard. Eventually, you might get good or at least adequate. Either way you'll be way more in demand that the next guy who never tried. I got the gig I have now because I can sing a little.

[trevcda]

I agree with everyone so far. But put a seriously earnest effort into it. Really good bass players are fairly rare to begin with. A bass player that can sing is real find for a band. As a player in a heavily harmony oriented band a couple pieces of advice; bad "ooohs" are way worse than no "ooohs". As your vocals become more important so does the ability to hear yourself. If you can't hear yourself, say something and get it fixed. CSNY harmonies are a pretty tough for first time harmonies, but if you listen to what you and the others are singing and you know your exact part you can do it.

[AfroCubanFunkMa]

See Jive's thread sticky'd on the Band Management forum on singing.. There's a wealth of information there..

[MNAirHead]

IT's silly to have musicians in cover bands not working on vocals.

You don't have to be a rock god to add some foundation to the vocals -- you can become mixed down to lesson the effect.

I once had a great mentor point out... "Crazy bass skills do not trump Bass+Vocals+Selling"

[Dublin-Bass]

Originally Posted by MNAirHead

IT's silly to have musicians in cover bands not working on vocals.

You don't have to be a rock god to add some foundation to the vocals -- you can become mixed down to lesson the effect.

I once had a great mentor point out... "Crazy bass skills do not trump Bass+Vocals+Selling"

Silly?!.. Why is it silly? I've played in cover Bands where I've not done Vocals, and I've played in others where I have been requested to do so (I can't stand singing myself, but thats beside the point)

Regarding the point of the Mentor, I know what that means, but that sort of opinion has always bothered me, as though it makes you less of a Bassist if you don't sing, like your Bass Playing comes Secondary.
For me, though I will try to contribute B.Vocals, I hate doing it (though I will try it if necessary) and I don't have a good Voice anyway. And I'm not alone as there are some good non-singing Bassists out there that I quite idolise anyway.
As I always say "I'd rather be a Monster Bassist who doesn't sing,rather than a Monster Bassist who does". Call that weird if you will, but thats what I feel.

[Dublin-Bass]

Originally Posted by shadowtippy

I'm not sure if this is the right thread or not, but here goes...
I don't sing in public for a reason. The reason is: I can't cary a tune. I've been known to scare children and small animals with my "singing." My band leader wants me to do some backing vocals, not really singing, (no words, just "oooh") on a CSNY song that we play. Should I agree to do it, or would it be best to refuse so as not to embarrass myself and ruin the song?

I'd try it if I were you, it could work and if it doesn't you can at least say you tried.
I'm kinda like you, and I have contributed some Backing Vocals before but have NEVER enjoyed it. I don’t have a good voice anyway, as I have been told a few times, and believe it or not….I’m actually “Glad” that I don’t :-o…..(just having a Microphone in front of me makes me feel a bit "crowded" onstage", no problem with Monitors etc, but Mikes?!.... Nah, not for me ) but I also have another theory which has always been kinda important to me. I love being a Bassist and..... call this a weird thing to say if you like,....having to do Backing Vocals, kinda takes away what being a Bassist means to me.
I love being the Glue that holds the Music together, Musically lying on top of the Drums to make the Foundation Work, and having the extra layers (the Guitars, Keys, Vocals, Harmonies, even Brass-Sections or String Sections) lie on top of me so that they sound better and mix properly with the Drums. I get great joy from that, and as I was told one time “ without a Bassist, the Music has no Ass.
If I am asked to contribute to the Backing Vocals, then I don’t get nearly the same enjoyment out of it. I love hearing the Beautiful Harmonies I’m playing with, and I love being the glue to hold it together, like all their Voices become part of my Voice as a Bassist. But if I have to contribute to it Vocally, then it takes away the satisfaction I get out of it, hence what I meant earlier when I said “having to do Backing Vocals, kinda takes away what being a Bassist means to me”. Even when I tried to stick the the Idea of being a Singing-Bassist, I found I was far less enthusiastic about Music and was just not enjoying even listening to it as much. Bizarre I know, but that’s just me I guess.
I feel the same if I go to a Concert and if the Bassist is a Singer then I don’t enjoy his or her performance as much. Sometimes it bothers me when I hear People say that Singing adds to your value as a Bassist, cos while I understand what that means, I hate the idea that it kinda makes your Bass Playing somehow, secondary or less-important. I hope all this makes sense, and I know it may sound odd, but as I said, that’s just me I guess.
As such I’ve usually prefer to see non-singing Bassists in Concert, and there are plenty whom I idolise such as Leland Sklar, Mike Porcaro, John McVie, Neil Murray, Roger Glover, Chris Chaney, Mario Cipollina to name but a few.
As I said in another Post “I’d rather be a Technically Talented Bassist who doesn’t Sing, rather than a Technically Talented Bassist who does”. I did get turned down for a Gig once because of the Vocal thing. But it really didn’t bother me that much because they did like my Bass Playing, and if THAT had not been up to scratch then that would have really really gotten to me.
But…. Having said all that, if I am asked to do a bit of Back-up then I will grit my Teeth and try it. As I was told once, you should try it if asked, and if its discovered you really cannot Sing, the chances are that by then the gig will already be yours so they will find another way to work around it.
That’s just my thoughts on this Post

[the yeti]

if it's really bad chances are they'll tell you. if they were asking you to play a bass part that was out of your comfort zone how would you react? treat this the same. i think you should go for it.

[EddiePlaysBass]

This one hits home I have almost always done backing vocals with the different bands I have been in. But my current blues band consists of musicians of a whole different level, and both the singer and drummer are now coaching me into becoming a better backup singer.

It is stressful and at times embarrassing. Usually we will do short vocal sessions during rehearsal where I need to find a harmony vocal to match the lead and the drummers harmony. Sometimes it is then agreed that I do not sing at all, sometimes we work on it for a good few times.

I have to say that I sometimes regret having suggested doing backings. But I see it as a further development of my musical skills. And what is wrong with that, right?

[Cosmic Closet]

Do a rehersal after you've practized a bit. Then record the rehersal and let everyone listen to it.
The truth will be there.... Either yay or nay.

[cchorney]

I'm a bad singer. It doesn't stop me from doing lead singing on simpler songs, and some simple backing harmonies, but I am what I am. And this gives me some insight which I'll share.

The difference between bad singers and good singers is:

Bad singers have a really hard time hearing themselves as they sing - this makes it really hard to carry a tune. An in ear monitor might help, certainly a finger in the ear can, if you can figure out how to do that while simultaneously playing bass!

Bad singers can't pick a note and accurately sing it without coming in a little low or high and then adjusting. To put it in instrument terms, good singers are always in tune, bad singers have to "tune up" each time they open their mouth. Some of this is brain wiring and some of this is practice. I tend to hit the root of the key on my bass and mutter to myself in key prior to starting singing as a trick to help myself.

Bad singers have to focus to stay in key. A little slack in focus and they go flat. But it can be done and gets easier with practice.

Bad singers don't have a good feel for their vocal limits. Specifically how far they can go without hitting that point where their voice fails. This is fixable via practice.

Bad singers can't hear the harmony separate from the melody, and drift from one to the other. This is fixable via practice or lessons and practice.

Bad singers sing ok in the shower but are awful in front of people. This is a stress thing. Sticking with it and practicing both in private and in public will improve this.

Now for all of these things, the bad singer can improve himself, maybe to the point of being a good singer. Maybe good singers struggled with all these things and earlier on figured it all out and practiced and trained themselves to get to the point they are at. I'm a work in progress. Far closer to "bad" than "good" but compared to where I am before I started singing in a band setting, I've improved a lot. So don't count yourself out just because you feel like you are a bad singer, step up and find ways to sing in a band setting, which will make you better right there, and drive yourself to practice more and get better, and maybe take some lessons.

[77 StingRayBass]

Mis Dos Centavo's...Worked with a seasoned road band, it was my first "Full-time" road gig. The Band leader took me aside a few gig's into my stint and told me, "Either you're a Mother-****** on that Bass, or you start singing some song's, or at least some B.G.'s..." Stated adding a few "Ooh's and Ahh's, and been singing Lead and Back ground's ever since. Thought I'd have a problem doing both, but have been lucky, and I adjust my Bass-lines depending on the tune. Some of the best advice I got...

[bassbully]

Go for it. I didn't want to sing backups when i got back to playing in fear I would mess up my basslines. It wasnt that I was a bad singer (not) it was the fear of messing up (did)
I finally got the chance to do it and felt so happy and free when I found a few songs I could do it with and not mess up. Today I can still do it and am improving all the time. This makes you a better player, more marketable and more confident as well.

[Dublin-Bass]

Originally Posted by cchorney

I'm a bad singer. It doesn't stop me from doing lead singing on simpler songs, and some simple backing harmonies, but I am what I am. And this gives me some insight which I'll share.

The difference between bad singers and good singers is:

Bad singers have a really hard time hearing themselves as they sing - this makes it really hard to carry a tune. An in ear monitor might help, certainly a finger in the ear can, if you can figure out how to do that while simultaneously playing bass!

Bad singers can't pick a note and accurately sing it without coming in a little low or high and then adjusting. To put it in instrument terms, good singers are always in tune, bad singers have to "tune up" each time they open their mouth. Some of this is brain wiring and some of this is practice. I tend to hit the root of the key on my bass and mutter to myself in key prior to starting singing as a trick to help myself.

Bad singers have to focus to stay in key. A little slack in focus and they go flat. But it can be done and gets easier with practice.

Bad singers don't have a good feel for their vocal limits. Specifically how far they can go without hitting that point where their voice fails. This is fixable via practice.

Bad singers can't hear the harmony separate from the melody, and drift from one to the other. This is fixable via practice or lessons and practice.

Bad singers sing ok in the shower but are awful in front of people. This is a stress thing. Sticking with it and practicing both in private and in public will improve this.

Now for all of these things, the bad singer can improve himself, maybe to the point of being a good singer. Maybe good singers struggled with all these things and earlier on figured it all out and practiced and trained themselves to get to the point they are at. I'm a work in progress. Far closer to "bad" than "good" but compared to where I am before I started singing in a band setting, I've improved a lot. So don't count yourself out just because you feel like you are a bad singer, step up and find ways to sing in a band setting, which will make you better right there, and drive yourself to practice more and get better, and maybe take some lessons.

I think some People are just bad singers Period, doesn't mean they are bad Musicians.

[shadowtippy]

Thanks for the input and encouragement. I'll give it a shot, regardless of the outcome.

[jive1]

I think it's always a good idea to sing, whether you are good or not, or will do it in public or only in the shower. I'm an awful singer, but I'll continue to do it. Regardless of marketability, or ability, it makes me a better musician.

I can't think of a much better instrument for building your ear than your voice. You have no visual cues like frets or keys to work with, so you have to rely solely on your ear. Singing in pitch requires a good ear, and you can use that same skill for learning new tunes. Singing harmony requires you have have an ear for harmony, and being able to hear harmony and work within it can only help you come up with better bass lines. Singing background vox will help your ear for dynamics by helping you blend in with the lead vocals, and that ear can translate into your playing more dynamically within the mix.

I can't see any reason why singing would hurt. Even if you have a hard time singing and playing, by practicing it and overcoming it, you become even more fluid on the bass because it's more in your muscle memory. Then when you are not singing, it's that much easier to play the bass. It's almost like weight training.

There's a reason why lots of music schools require voice and/or aural skills to get a dregree. It helps you become a better musician. Even if you don't plan on singing, it's still a good thing to spend time on. And the great thing about singing is that you can do it anywhere and doesn't cost you anything, which means you can always practice and improve on your musicianship.